Record changer



April 30, 1968 Filed Dec. 27, 1965 171' 'rv-Y' O. BABLER ETAL RECORDCHANGER 2 Sheets-Sheet *l &\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\l /NVE/VTORS April 30,1968 o. BABLER ETAL RECORD CHANGER United States Patent O 3,339,741RECQRB CHANGER @tto Babler, 621() Byron St., and Egon Stephan Banier,6212 Byron St., both of Chicago, Ill. 69634 Filed Dec. 27, 1965, Ser.No. M6568 lll Claims. (Qi. 274ltl) This invention relates to recordchangers tor phonographs or the like wherein records are supported andreleased to a turntable or the like.

The present invention is directed to record changing apparatus for usewith a spindle having a substantially straight, shatt-lil e member uponwhich the records are centered. This is in contrast to a commonly usedoffset spindle where an upper portion of the spindle is offset from alower portion of the spindle thereby forming a shoulder on which therecord stack is supported. Where the otiset spindle is employed, it iscommon practice to employ additional 'holding or stabilizing arm forholding the records on the shoulder of the spindle.

A common practice with known straight spindle record changers is toexpand a resilient ring to hold temporarily the stacked records whilethe lowermost record or the stack is being released. in lien of anexpanded ring. it has been heretofore proposed to hex outwardly leafspring members to hold the stack during a record releas ing operation.Usually the aforementioned resilient elements engage and hold the recordstack by exerting a rictional holding force against the interior wallsat the center hole in the record.

To these resilient rings or leaf spring members requires considerableoperating force, and in many instances, requires the use of an oversizedmotor trom that wl is needed to supply the operating force for turning aturntable. Accordingly, an object o the present invention is toeliminate such ilexible members and to support records temporarily withnon-tiered members requiring less operating torce to support the stackduring a record changing operation.

More specically, a further object of the invention is to temporarily astack of records with a lplurality ot loosely confined rinffs, rollersor balls which are readily movable to and to hold temporarily the stackof records.

A further object of the invention is to temporarily hold records daringa record changing operation with non-tiered, temporarily supportingmembers; and alter the tcmpoary hol ig, to support the stack of recordsrs extending a considerable distance bevond t ie periphery of thespindle and having wide and ous support for the stack of records. lesize or" the holes in the records is subject to considera'cle variationand this Condition is agg avated by enlargement the holes after wear. Ashortcoming of art record changers is the inability to expand resi cntrecord supporting member sufficiently to exert sufucient frictionalholding forces on the stack when os with enlarged holes are to be held.This lack ng to som nes results in the untimely dropg or a rec while thetone arm is engaged with a i cord on the turntable which may causeconsiderable to the tone arm -and to the record on the turngly, anotherobject of the present inven- .irmaate i'iexibie record supportingmembers dama-gc table. Acco tioA1 limited in their extent oi movementoutwardly he periphery or the spindle; and to support records D thestandard noie dimension.

T e spindle Supporting the records for 33 rpm. and 78 rpm. records arequite small in diameter. Th s, the operating members disposed within thespindle and for havinn center holes considerably oversize from that ofmovements into and out of the contines of the spindle to engage therecords are also of small dimensions. The manufacture ot relativelysmall record holding elements with inexpensive, mass productiontechniques While holdinU to relatively close dimensional tolerances; hasbeen a considerable problem in the art; and accordingly a further objectof the present invention is a record changing apparatus capable of beingmanufactured inexpensively and at relatively close tolerances.

A further object of the invention is to temporarily support records,during a changing operation, with one piece, rounded support elementsradially spaced about the spindle; and to support the stack, after thechan-ging operation, with separate and distinct one piece levers adaptedto extend considerably beyond the rounded support elements.

Another object of the invention is an improved record changing devicewhich affords a positive three point supporting for temporary holding ofrecords in lieu of the conventional, non-positive, frictional grippingof the records by some of the prior art record changers. Moreover, thepositive holding is self-locking in the sense that the weight of therecords on the supporting elements locks the supporting elements frommoving.

Gther and t' -ther objects of the present invention will be apparenttrom the following description and claims and are illustrated in theaccompanying rawings which, by way of illustration, shows preferredembodiments of the present invention and the principles thereof and whatis now considered to be the best mode contemplated for applying theseprinciples. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same orequivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made asdesired by those skilled in the art without departing from the presentinvention.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is an enlarged sectional view ot a record changer supporting astack of records and constructed in accordance with the preferredembodiment of the invention;

FlG. 2 is a sectional view showing the temporary stack supportingelements holding the staclc while the lowermost record is being releasedto the intermediate position;

lG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the lines 3 3 or" PEG. l in thedirection of the arrows and showing the temporary stack supportingelements and a retaining ring therefor;

FlG. 4 is another embodiment of the invention for practicing theprinciples of the present invention;

FiG. 5 is 'a sectional view taken along the lines 5 5 of HG. 4 in thedirection of the arrows showing annular supporting members and theirtransverse pintles seated on interior shoulders within the recordspindle;

FIG. 6 illustrates the record spindle of FIG. 4 with the operating rodhalt way on its upstroke;

FIG. 7 illustrates the same spindle with the operating rod in an upperend position and the temporary record holding members holding the stack;

FIG. 8 is a sectional View taken alonO the lines 8-8 of FIG. 7 in thedirection of the arrows shown a resilient band being used to hold arecord in an intermediate position;

FIG. 9 illustrates the manner of locking the retaining ring;

HG. 10 illustrates another embodiment wherein cams are employed in lieuof the annular members for temporarily holding the stack of records; and

FIG. ll is a perspective view of a cam member employed in the embodimentof FIG. l0.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FlG. l, there isillustrated a record changing apparatus constructed in accordance withthe preferred embodiment of the invention. The record changing apparatuscomprises a central spndle or shaft 16 having a plurality of recordsupporting levers 18 engaging the underside of the stack of records S tosupport the records While in a stacked condition until it is desired torelease the lowermost record for downward sliding movement along thespindle 16 to the turntable (not shown). When it is desired to change arecord, the central operating or cam means 24) within the spindle 16 ismoved upwardly from the position of FIG. l to that of FIG. 2 causing thesupporting levers 18 to pivot inwardly within the contines of thespindle 16 while an upper camming means having a conical surface 22forces the plurality of rounded record Supporting members 25 intoengagement with the second lowermost record, as seen in FG. 2, to holdthe stack temporarily while the lowermost record L is moving downwardtoward the turntable.

The present invention is adapted for use with the socalled center orstraight spindles which are of a substantially constant diameter andwhich have a single axis or centerline CL throughout the length of thespindle, as contrasted with the offset spindle which has the upperportion thereof offset on a centerline different than the centerline ofthe lowermost portion of the spindle. When records are disposed on theconventional offset spindle, a record stabilizing or stack stabilizingarm (not shown) engages the top of the stack to hold the stack centeredon a shoulder between the upper and lower portions of the offsetspindle. With the straight spindle of the present invention, thestabilizing arm may .be eliminated.

The present invention is particularly adapted for use with records of 33rpm. and 78 r.p.m. having a relatively small center hole which usuallyfalls within the range of 6.284 to 0.300 inch. The present inventionalso may be used with 45 r.p.m. records having a considerably largercenter hole dimension thereby necessitating a spindle of larger diameteror the use of adapter to reduce the hole size to that of 78 r.p.m. and33 r.p.m. records. Because of the relatively small size of the hole inthe 78 r.p.m. and 33 r.p.m. records, the spindle shaft 16 is ofrelatively small diameter and the record supporting elements 25 are alsoof a relatively small size to lit Within the contines of the spindle 16.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-3,the record supporting elements 25 are ring-like or annular membershaving enlarged center holes 28 in which is disposed a circularretaining ring 30 which is split at 31, FIG. 3. One manner of formingthe ring-like supporting members 25 is to cut them from a length oftubing, usually of nylon, Delrin or other plastic, although metal may beused.

A can best :be appreciated from FIG. 3, there are three recordsupporting means 25 each of which is disposed in a slot 33 and confinedagainst sideways shifting movement, as seen in FIG. 3, by the side walls34 milled longitudinally in the spindle 16 to a width approximately thatof the ring-like members 25. As can be understood from FIGS. 1 and 2,the milled slots 33 extend inwardly from the peripheral, cylindricalwall 37 of the spindle 16 into an interior hollow chamber or bore 38.

The bore 38 at the upper portion of the spindle 16 is of a largerdiameter than a smaller bore 39 immediately therebelow in which slides4a stem 48 of the operating cam means 2t). At the interface between thebores 38 and 39 there is formed an annular shoulder 41 on which reststhe retaining ring 30, FG. 1, with the operating cam means in itslowered position. As apparent from FIG. 2, the forcing of the recordholding members upwardly and outwardly to support the stack of recordsalso moves the retaining ring upwardly from the shoulder 41 between therespective bores 3S and 39.

It will be appreciated that the record supporting means 25 are onlyloosely conned by the retaining ring 38 from moving completely outwardthrough the slots 33 in the spindle 16. The record supporting means 25are free to move upwardly and outwardly when pushed by the conicalsurface 22 on the cam means 2G. The freedom of movement of the ring-likemembers, constituting the record holding means 25, permits the membersto revolve about the ring 38 and afford an even distribution of wearabout the periphery of ring-like members. Because of their loosearrangement and the large oversize holes 28 in which the retaining ring38 is disposed, the ring-like members 25 are free for considerableoutward movement from the co-nines of the spindle wall 37 to engage theWalls W of the record holes even if the holes are oversized.Significantly, this freedom of movement permits manufacture of thering-like members 25 to more reasonable manufacturing tolerances andaffords a cheaper mass production of the record supporting means 25. Asmentioned previously, the ring-like members 25 may, however, be held toclose tolerances by simple grinding operation of the tubular membersfrom which the ringliite members 25 are cut. This loose confining andeasy movement of the members 25 may be contrasted with the tiexiblemembers of the prior art which require large amounts of force to tiexand which are limited in their amount of iexing movement to smallermovements.

The side walls 34 forming the longitudinal slots for the recordsupporting means 25 also serve to receive the record supporting levers18 at the lower portion of the longitudinally extending slots 33. 1t ispreferred that three such record supporting levers 18 be disposedequi-distance about the periphery of the spindie 1 6 and be disposedimmediately beneath the record supporting means 25 for supporting therecords with a three point suspension. The record supporting levers 18are each pivoted about and held within the spindle 16 by a circularretaining ring 45 disposed within an annular groove 46 in the peripheralsurface 37 of the spindle 16. Each of the record supporting levers 18 isformed with a notch 48 for seating in the retaining ring 45 toconstitute the retaining ring 45 as a pivot means for each of therespective record supporting levers 18.

It is preferred practice to form the record supporting levers 18 ofintegral one-piece construction including an integral leaf spring or legportion which has a free end 51 in engagement with the stem 48 of theoperating cam means 20. When the flexible legs 50 are in their free andrelatively unliexed positions illustrated in FIG. 1, the upper iiatsurfaces 53 of levers 18 are in engagement with the bottom surface ofthe lowermost record L. The surfaces 53 are relatively wide and aredisposed suihciently outward ofthe spindle 18 to afford a good andgenerous bearing surface for a three point support for the recordstacks. The weight of the record stack on the fiat surfaces 53 of therecord supporting levers 18 holds the levers 18 rotated about theretaining ring 45 with their lower pointed surfaces 55 in engagementwith the stem 4t) thereby affording a positive three point support forthe stack of records. The levers 18 may extend radially outwardly fromthe spindle through a much greater distance than the ring-like members2S, thereby affording a wide spread and iirm support.

For the purpose of camming the record supporting levers 18 to within theconfines of the spindle 16, as seen in FIG. 2, the lower portions of therecord supporting levers 18 are formed with inclined cam surfaces 58which are adapted to be engaged by an annular cam or shoulder 59 on theoperating cam means 28. The shoulder 59 is formed between the upper stem40 and a lower and larger diameter, cylindrical portion 60 of theoperating cam means 21B which siides within a suitable bore 61 whichjoins the stem bore 39 at 62. Thus, it will be seen that the upwardmovement of the operating cam means 28 moves the shoulder 59 intoengagement with the respective inclined surface 58 causing the lowerends of the record supporting levers 18 to pivot the lower endsoutwardly and the upper ends and surfaces 53 inwardly to the positionshown in FIG. 2, whereupon the lowermost record L is adapted to slidedownwardly toward the intermediate position of FIG. 2.

When the cam means 23 is in the position of FlG. 2, the annular camshoulder 59 acting on the lower end portions of the record supportinglevers l pivots the levers 18 to a position in which the lower and outersurface 63 0n the lower portions 6d of the levers l extend beyond theperipheral surface of the spindle 16. As the surfaces 53 at the top ofthe levers i8 release the record, the lower surfaces 63 are moved intoposition to catch the now-released record and to hold the saine at theintermediate position of FIG. 2. At this intermediate position, the sizeof the record can be gauged by a suitable arm (not shown). lt should benoted that the conical surface 22 has moved the record supportingmembers 25 to wedge against the wall W in the record delining a centerhole in the now-lowermost record Ll of the stack of records.

When the operating cam means 2li is moved downwardly under the torce ofa compression spring 65, the respective record supporting levers i8 arerotated by their respective spring members 59 to move the at recordsupporting surfaces 53 outwardly and beneath the stack Oi records.Simultaneously, the outer surfaces o3 on the lower portions 64 or thelevers 13 move within the connes or" the peripheral wall oi the spindlewhereby the record at the intermediate position is released to all tothe turntable.

lt is preferred that the upper portion of the spindle means le, whichhas hereinbefore been describe be or` a construction which is readilymachined from a cylindrical shaft or tube on an automatic screw machinethereby affording considerable advantage as to mass production at a lowcost. This .pper portion of the spindle means is preferred to be ll/zinches or less in length and terminating in an exterior thread 66threading into an interiorly threaded lower spindle portion loft.Alternatively, the spindle means lo may be molded from a plastic toafford a low cost spindle means, which is important to the commercialaspect of the present invention. A small plastic cap C may be providedto enclose the upper end or the spindle means rl`he lower spindleportieri lef/r has a central bore for receiving the compression spring65, which is fitted between a iiange or collar 76 formed in the lowerend of the operating cam means 2.0 and the lower end 7i ot the upperportion of the spindle lo. A push rod FZ is disposed within the bore 63of the lower spindle portion loA to engage the collared end iti of theoperz'ng cam means 2l) to force the cani means 2li upwardly against theforce ot the compression spring 65. The cani means 2t) is urged tofollow the push rod Z from the position of FG. 2 to that of the positionof FlG. l by the compression spring 65 expanding. The push rod 72 isselectively operated by a mechanism (not shown) disposed beneath theturntable.

Upon the dropping of the last record, the cam means 243 overtravelsbecause the conical surface 2?. is not limited during its upwardmovement by the record supporting members 25 engaging a record. Theover-travel ot" the cam means 2u and the push rod 72 `can be readilydetected by a micro-switch or the like for causing an automatic shut oliof the record player after the playing of this last record now moving tothe turntable.

ln the foregoing embodiment of the invention described in conjunctionwith lflGS. 1-4, the record holding members 25' are held in place by aretaining ring El@ extending through enlarged central apertures 2S otthe respective holding members ZS. As previously described inconjunction with llG. 2, the ring-like members 2S are wedged outwardlyagainst the side walls W of the hole in a record to exert a directwedging force thereon, this force being more than suhicient to hold astack of records.

it has been found that by reducing the sise of the r'riction element 2S,from the relatively larger ring-like mem- `ers 25 to smaller annularmembers Sl, FIGS. 4-8, that All a dilerent operation ensues during arecord changing cycle, namely, that the record supporting members 3lactually pry in between the loWerrnost record L and the record Llthereabove, as seen in FIG. 6. During this prying action, the rollersSl, actually lift the stack upwardly from the lowermost record L and therecord supporting members til are actually disposed beneath the edges ofthe wall W of the record Ll, as contrasted with the engagement oi theannular wall W by the members 2S, as seen in FG. 2. This penetration orprying between records breaks the adhesion, that sometimes occursbetween the records L and Ll, so that the record L is not delayed inrelease due to the adhesion erect between records.

flthough the record supporting members Si could have central aperturestherein to receive a retaining ring 35, it is preferred that such aretaining ring be dispensed with and that small pintles or axle-lillemembers 8l) be disposed on opposite sides of the annular member 8l, asbest seen in HG. 5. The small pintles Sil hold the circular snepedholding means Sl from sliding through the slots 35 and the pintles 80also serve to prevent the record supporting members Si rorn droppingdownwardly towards the record supporting levers Sii, FlG. 4.

For the purpose of supportiruT the stack, a plurality of recordsupporting levers of FlGS. 4, 6 and 7, are disposed in slots 33 of thespindle le and member S5 t0 have their upper ends SS in engagement withthe under surface ot the lowermost record L to support the stack ofrecords. rfhe weight of the record staclr S on the record supportinglevers 2,4 hold the record supporting levers de with their lower endsinwardly engaging the operating Cain means 2S which is of the sameconliguration and operates in the same manner ot the cam meanshereinbeore described conjunction with FIGS. l-3. Each of the levers84.- has a slot l in which is received the retaining ring di about whichthe levers 3d pivot. The resilient ring 85 performs the function of theresilient spring lealp legs Sli of the record supporting means .i8 t0urge the record supporting levers Se outwardly from the position shownin FlG. 7 to that of FIG. 4. The resilient ring SS performs anadditional function or stopping the released record during its downwardfall at an intermediate position, as seen in FIG. 7, at which positionthe size of the record may be gauged. The gauging of the record sizeassures that the tone arm will be accurately positioned when thelowermost record L is dropped from the intermediate position to theturntable. As can best be understood from FiG. 8, the respective leversSe pivot the lower curved ends to expand the resilient ring to thegenerally triangular shape shown in FlG. 8, wherein engaged portions ofthe resilient ring E5 extend outwardly beyond the peripheral surface 3'7of the spindle le.

After the record been gauged as to size, the push rod 72, HG. 7, movesdownwardly to allow the force of compression spring to lower the cammeans 2@ to move the cam shoulder 59 to the position of FIG. 4, wir "einthe resiient ring S5 resumes its circular shape remains within thegroove 9G therefor. The resilient ring 35 contracts within theperipheral spindle surface 37 to be free ot interference oi thelowermost record L slidinfr past to the turntable (not shown).

`^D Another cmbodirnm of the invention is illustrated in FIG. lG, andincludes the plurality of record supporting 7 ord holding surface 91Hwhich is adapted to be forced into tight engagement with thc record L1to support the stack of records while the lowermost record L is beingreleased by the levers 18.

Each of the members 91 has an inclined surface 91S for engagement withthe inclined conical or camming surface 22. In the familiar manner,during upward movement of the cam means 2t?, the surface 22 cammmgagainst the surfaces 91S forces the record holding members 91 radialyoutward and into holding engagement with the wall W of the record L1.The outward movenient of the record supporting members 91 is limited byan upward linger-like portion 91F, engaging an encompassing ilange on acircular retainer 93. The circular retainer 93 is biased by a spring 94to have its lower flange 9.3F disposed against an upper generallyhorizontal surface 91G on the respective record supporting members 91.Preferably, the center of the retainer 93 is provided with a centeropening 93H for receiving the upper tip portion of the conical surface22. The retainer 93 is so sized as to slide within the bore 3b and tomaintain its position therein. lt is preferred that the recordsupporting members be adapted for seating on a washer like member 92 toprevent the loosely arranged record supporting members 91 from fallingdownwardly into the elongated slots for the record supporting levers 18.From the foregoing, it will be seen that the record supporting members91 are limited in their radial expansion by the retainer 93 and thus aremaintained by the biasing of the spring 94 against the washer 92 andagainst the conical or cam surface 22. Also, it will be Seen from FIG.IO that the record supporting levers 18 aord the widely-spaced permanentsupport and the members 91 afford temporary holding force for a recordchanging operation.

As an aid to understanding the foregoing, a brief description of therecord changer is included herein. When the record is in its upwardposition, the record supporting levers 18 are disposed in a tri-podarrangement with their large, upper nat surfaces 53 extending for aconsiderable distance outwardly of the spindle for engagement with thelowermost record L in the manner illustrated in FIG. l. The lconicalsurface 22 on the operating cam means 29 is in its downward positionallowing the retaining ring 36 to be seated on the shoulder 41 with therings 25 loosely positioned to the contines of the spindle 16, by thesecond lowermost record of the stack of records S.

To start a record changing operation, the push rod 72 moves upwardlyfrom the position shown in FIG. l, to that shown in FIG. 2. As soon asthe operating rod 29 starts to move upwardly, the conical cam surface 22with little resistance, rolls the rings 25 immediately into a wedgingengagement with the wall W at the center hole of the second record L1.Because the angle of the conical surface 22 is steep enough to thevertical, the wall W of the record L1, the ring-like member 25 and thecam 22 will be' locked together. Thus, a further upward movement of theconical cam surface 22 lifts the record L1 together with the recordsthereby breaking any adhesion between records L and L1. The liftingforce on the operating rod 2t) will be equal to the weight lof therecords to be lifted. This force is much smaller than the force requiredfor operating conventional record changers where flexible members haveto be flexed into engagement with the wall at the record hole and flexedfurther to obtain enough friction to hold the record stack during thechange cycle.

The loosely confined record supporting members 25 are free for largeradial movements and are not limited in movement as are the exed priorart members. Hence, the members 25 are free to move to engage with thewall W of the record hole irrespective of whether or not the hole isslightly oversized. When it is considered that the spindle 16 isrelatively small in diameter and that the record supporting means aremuch smaller yet, the ability to hold oversize records will beappreciated.

The lifting of the records upwardly from the lowermost record, removesthe weight of the upper records thereby reducing the amount of forcerequired to pivot the levers 18 or 84 inwardly as the upper surfaces ofthe levers slide along the lower surface of the lowermost record. Thisupward lifting movement `of the stack is important in that it breaks theadhesion sometimes present between the lowermost record of the stack andthe record immediately thercabove. This adhesion has been known to causea time delay of the release of the lo-wermost record sometimes droppingthe record on the tone arm.

After the temporary support of the stack S by the ringlilre members 25,the collar 59 of the cam means 20 moves into engagement with theinclined surface 53 on the respeciive record supporting levers 18 topivot upper end surfaces 53 of the respective levers 18 inwardly to theposition of FIG. 2. Simultaneously, integral legs 50 on the levers i8are flexed to return the levers 18. When the cam shoulder 59 movesupwardly to the position shown in FIG. 2, the upper end surfaces 53 ofthe levers 18 are within the contines of the spindle 16 permitting thelowermost record L to slide therepast to the surfaces 63 on the lowerends of the levers 18. The surfaces 63 on the levers 18 stop thedownward movement of record L and hold the same for gauging as to size.The record L is held in this intermediate position of FIG. 2, until therod 72 moves downwardly.

Downward movement of the push rod 72 and the cam means 2@ permits thestack of records and the record supporting means 25' to move downwardlyas a unit thereby affording time for the legs 5G to tlex the upper, flatsurface 53 of the levers 18 outwardly into position to engage and tosupport the stack. The weight of the stack holds the record supportingmeans 25 in a locked position against the cam surface 22 as the cammeans 20 moves downwardly until the conical surface 22 moves downwardlysuiciently to render the ring 30 elective to prevent further downwardmovement of the record supporting members 25, as seen in FIG. 1. At thistime, however, the surfaces 53 of the levers 18 are in position to haltfurther downward movement of the stack towards the turntable.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 4-8, the upwardmovement of the operating rod 20 moves the smaller diameter, annularmembers 81 upwardly to engage the periphery of the wall W of the centerhole of the record L1 and to penetrate between the records L and L1, asseen in FIG. 6, wherein the operating rod 2t? is approximately half waythrough its upward stroke. The penetration and prying of the rollers 81between the records L and L1 is aided by the spring force afforded by abiasing means in the form of a spring 86 and a plunger S7 disposed inthe bore 3S above the members 81. The lower edge 87E of the plunger 87is beveled and engages the interior portions of members 81, that is,interior of their pintles St). The spring S6 and plunger 87 thus exert aforce to urge the annular members 81 outwardly to pry or penetratebetween the records L and L1 as the cam surface 22 and rod 2t) mo'veupwardly. After penetration, as seen in FIG. 6, further upward movementof the conical surface 22 from the position of FIG. 6 to the position ofFIG. 7, lifts the record stack from the record L. Simultaneously, withthe lifting of the stack of records on the support members 81, therecord supporting levers 84 retract their upper ends to the periphery ofthe spindle allowing the record L to descent therepast to engage theresilient ring 8S at the intermediate position, as seen in FIG. 7. Smallprojections 84A on the levers 84 engage the cam shaft '40, as best seenin FIG. 7, to hold the slots y48 from movement from the pivot ring 85.

During a subsequent down stroke of the push rod 72 and rod 2t), therecords are still supported on the memsesam-1 bers @l which remain intheir record supporting positions. In the meanwhile, the upper surfaces88 of the record supporting levers S4 pivot outwardly due to theresilient band 25' contracting and pivoting the lower ends of the leversinwardly. When the push rod 72 and rod 2G reach the position of FIG. 4,the annular members 8l are again loosely conned by the conical surface22 and bythe shoulder 30A.

A feature of the present invention is the manner of securing theencircling retaining ring d5', against expansion from its groove due tothe force exerted thereon by the levers 18 or 84, which are pivotallymounted thereon. More particularly, the peripheral surface 37 of thespindle means l5 is formed with an annular recess or groove i6 which isintersected by a longitudinally extending recess 93, FIG. 9, which isadapted to receive the curved ends 45a and 45h of the ring 4S to preventthe ring from expanding due to the weight of the records on thesupporting levers. More specifically, the curved ends 45a and #lib areseated in a recess 9S. The weight of records on the levers 1li isresisted by the ends 45a and 45o of the ring 45, engaging the respectivesurfaces 98a and 9S!) or" the recess 9S. lf desired, the ends 45a and451: could be twisted and interlocked together and turned at rightangles to lit within the recess 8.

rom the foregoing, will be seen that in accordance with the presentinvention, widely spaced generous areas of support are provided onlevers for non-temporary support of records and that non-flexed,temporary members are readily cammed with a light force to hold thesecondlowermost record, during the record changing operation. ln thepreferred form, the temporary record supporting members are annular inconguration `affording an expensive and readily mass producedconstruction. The temporary record supporting members are free forconsiderable movement without the requirement of a strong operatingforce as in the case of the flexible sleeves or dexible lingers employedwith prior art record changers, which require that the holding membersbe flexed before moving into frictional engagement with the walls W ofthe holes in the records. The upper and lower portions of the recordspindle are inexpensive to manufacture and assemble thereby affording acommercially desirable and feasible spindle.

Hence, while preferred embodiments of the invention have been describedand illustrated, it is to be understood that these are capable ofvariation and modification.

We claim:

l. In a record changing apparatus for supporting a plurality of recordswhile in a stacked condition and for releasing the lowermost record fordownward movement towards a turntable, vertically oriented spindle meanshaving an outer peripheral surface about which are centered the recordswith center holes in the records disposed on said spindle means, aninner bore in said spindle means, openings in said spindle meansextending from said peripheral surface to said bore, a plurality ofstack supporting lever means pivotally mounted in said bore and biasedto extend through said openings for record supporting engagement withthe lowermost record of a stack of records, said lever means beingpivotal to a position adjacent to the peripheral surface of the spindlemeans to permit records to move therepast towards said turntable, cammeans disposed within said bore and movable to cam said lever means topermit records to move therepast, means, upward of said lever means, tosupport records temporarily during a record changing operation, saidlast-mentioned means including a plurality of annular supporting means,each having an axis parallel to said turntable, disposed in saidopenings and each movable in a plane substantially perpendicular to itsaxis upwardly and outwardly of said spindle means to engage and totemporarily support the record stack while the lowermost record is beingreleased by said lever means, said annular means being biased out ofengaging position,

and camming means in said bore for moving said annular supporting meansto support said records.

2. The record changing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lever means areelongated levers having upper end portions for holding said recordstack, intermediate p0rtions and lower end portions pivotable outwardlyof said peripheral surface for holding a released record at anintermediate position, means pivotally mounting said levers at saidintermediate portions, said cam means controlling pivotal movement ofthe respective upper end portions, and controlling pivotal movement ofthe respective lower end portions.

3. The record changing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lever means areelongated and have upper portions to engage and support the records, andincluding means to pivotally mount said lever means at a point beneathsaid upper portions, the upper portions being pivotable outwardly toafford a widely spaced suspension, and retaining means for limiting saidupward and outward movement of said annular means.

4. The record changing apparatus of claim 1 including retaining meansfor limiting said upward and outward movement of said annular meanswherein said annular supporting means are ring-like elements each havingan enlarged center hole, and wherein said retaining means comprises anannular ring extendinf7 through said holes and having a thicknesssmaller than the diameters of said holes in said ring-like elementswhich permits said ring-like elements to move both upwardly andoutwardly by said camming means While being retained in said openings bysaid retaining means.

5. The record changing apparatus of claim 1 wherein each or" said levermeans includes a spring leaf member thereon for urging its associatedlever means to a record supporting position.

6. The record changing apparatus of claim l wherein said annularsupporting means lhave portions interior of said peripheral surface,biasing means disposed opposite said camming means for exerting abiasing force outwardly of said spindle on said portions of said annularsupporting means upon upward movement of said annular supporting means,said annular supporting means being of small enough size such that Saidbiasing means and said camming means force said annular supporting meansto penetrate between records to lift the records thereabove and tosupport the records from beneath the stack.

7. The record changing apparatus of claim 2 including a groove in theperiphery of said spindle means intermediate thereof, and expandablemeans for supporting a record at a size sensing position disposed insaid groove and engaged by the lower end portions of said lever means,said lever means pivotable in one direction to expand said expandablemeans outwardly of the confines of the periphery of the spindle :toengage and support a record while it is being gauged for size.

S. The record changing apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means forpivotally mounting said lever means is a wire-like member substantiallyencircling said spindle means and having transverse bent end portions,said spindle means having an annular groove therein to receive saidwire-like member, said spindle means having a longitudinally extendingrecess for receiving said transverse bent end portions of said wire-likemember.

9. In a record changinU apparatus for supporting and releasing recordsfor movement towards a turntable, spindle means having a hollow interiorand having an outer peripheral surface `about which may be disposed thewalls of the center holes of said records, said spindle means having aplurality of slots extending from the hollow interior to the outerperipheral surface, a plurality of separate, individual annular recordsupporting rings, each having a peripheral surface, disposed in saidhollow interior, said rings being rollable upwardly and outwardly ofsaid spindle means to partially extend through said slots at saidperipheral surface of said spindle means to l axially moveable cam meansdefining a tapered surface about which said rings are disposed, Iaxiallydisposed in said bore of said spindle and engageable with Vtheperipheral surfaces of said rings interior of the spindle means to camsaid annular supporting rings to a record supporting position.

10. =T he record changing apparatus of claim 9 wherein said spindlemeans is comprised of an upper piece and a lower piece, said upper piecehaving said hollow interior and said slots, each of said pieces havingthe same external diameter, said lower piece h-aving a hollow interiorcoaxial with said upper piece, and said upper and lower pieces havingintertting ends joined together to constitute a spindle means.

11. The record changing apparatus of claim 9 including an axiallymoveable shaft on whichvis formed said cam means, said individual ringsengaging said second cam means and limiting upward movement of saidshaft when supporting a record, said individual members being adapted tomove further outwardly of said openings when no record is present and toallow said shaft to move further upwardly to institute a shut-olfoperation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,689,735 9/1954 Morrison 274--102,845,271 7/1958 Scheller et al. 274-1() 2,981,953 4/1961 Hansen 274-103,021,144 2/1962 Harnisch et al. 274-10 3,201,131 8/1965 Ansar et al.274-10 3,214,176 10/1965 Morrison 274--10 3,216,729 11/196-5 Babler274-10 3,257,114 6/1966 Hansen 274-10 3,279,797 1G/ 1966 Goulding 274-10FORETGN PATENTS 1,934,383 7/1958 Germany.

20 LEONARD FORMAN, Primary Examiner.

JOEL M. FREBD, Assistant Examiner.

